General Election candidates: Our views on fox hunting

Here's what they had to say. What do you think? We'd love to know your views on what the candidates have to say and your opinions on fox hunting.

Leave a comment or email generalelection@cnmedia.co.uk

COPELAND

I am personally not supportive of fox hunting. I have never been fox hunting, and don't want to.
Foxes do need to be managed as they have no natural predator. Living in the countryside, we must support our farming community and the current Hunting Act 2004 is widely regarded as requiring reform.
TRUDY HARRISON , Conservatives

For Liberal Democrats this issue of fox hunting is a free vote, however most Lib Dems, like most people in the UK, are opposed to bringing it back.
I am extremely concerned that Parliament will be unable to properly consult and deliver all the policies associated with Brexit and keep an eye on the ordinary business of government during the next parliamentary term. Therefore reopening this debate at this time seems ridiculous.
REBECCA HANSON , Liberal Democrats

"There was a policy from Ukip that we would like to hold local referendums for people to decide for themselves. I'm here to represent the people and what they want."
HERBIE CROSSMAN , Ukip

At a time when when ever more people are depending on foodbanks, the NHS is being seriously underfunded and put in crisis and the Tories are presiding over a chaotic Brexit, it seems ridiculous that practically the only policy announcement of note from the Conservatives is the reintroduction of fox hunting.
Land management and protection of livestock are big issues in the countryside but fox hunting is an inhumane, ineffective way of achieving this. Foxhunting is a sport open only to a wealthy few. It shows where the Tory priorities lie. Labour would build a country for the many not the few.
GILLIAN TROUGHTON , Labour

WORKINGTON

I'm a country-type guy. We need to control the fox population. I'm a chicken farmer – and it's not funny when all your chickens go missing. We have got to have a balance in nature and we need to have a method of control. Fox hunting is one method but it's not the only one. It's not the be all and end all.
ROY IVINSON , Independent

Labour as a party introduced the hunting ban. As a party we are still completely committed to that and I am personally committed to the ban.
The aim of the ban is to stop hunting with dogs.
SUE HAYMAN , Labour

I haven't got a strong opinion. I would have to look at it on its merits, I've never hunted but I do think we need to protect people in the countryside and the way of life.
It would come down to what was in the legislation and the views of my constituents
CLARK VASEY , Conservatives

My view is it should be fetched back in. I've always been pro-fox hunting. I lived in the country for a while and was unlucky enough to have two dozen of my chickens taken by a fox.
They are becoming a pest now.
GEORGE KEMP , Ukip

I think it's a distraction that we can do without. There are far more important things to be discussed. This has already been dealt with and should remain as it is.
PHILL ROBERTS , Liberal Democrats

CARLISLE

I don't think fox hunting is the most pressing of issues. There are other issues on the government agenda that are higher priority at the minute.
If there was a free vote though I would vote to repeal it.
JOHN STEVENSON , Conservatives

I'm not a huge supporter of fox hunting, but as a liberal I think we can be too ready to ban things.
I live in an agricultural valley where it's necessary to keep fox numbers down. In terms of animal cruelty, there are a lot more things to worry about than fox hunting.
PETER THORNTON , Liberal Democrats

I am completely anti-fox hunting and the ban should stay.
I oppose all forms of animal cruelty and want to see tougher prison sentences for anyone found guilty of it. Ukip would also ban the live export of animals for slaughter and insist on CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
FIONA MILLS , Ukip

Fox hunting was rightly banned by a Labour government and bringing this back is a way for the Tories to distract from the real issues that are facing thousands of people across the country.
As a farm worker I'm hugely aware of the arguments people put in favour of fox hunting and I'm aware of the need for farmers to control pests, but hunting foxes is not the way to do it.
RUTH ALCROFT , Labour

PENRITH AND THE BORDER

I'm in favour. It's an important cultural tradition in Cumbria going back many hundreds of years, and hunts like Blencathra and Ullswater are a very important part of rural tradition.
It's not something I've ever done myself but it's something I think people should have the right to do.
RORY STEWART , Conservative

A bunch of people dressed up and riding around on horses; chasing down a poor, defenceless animal so they can tear it to pieces. That's not a sport. That's a metaphor. A metaphor for this Government.
DOUG LAWSON , Green Party

My personal position is I've never opposed it because I believe it's quite possible for farmers to use more cruel ways to dispose of foxes, but I do think that we have a law against fox hunting now and I've no particular wish to change that.
NEIL HUGHES , Liberal Democrats

My position is that I do not understand where the Conservatives are coming from in wanting relook at it.
It's something that's opposed, is cruel to animals and is a blood sport we do not need.
JONATHAN DAVIES , Independent

I am against fox hunting and any type of animal sport which means an animal is maimed or killed.
I categorise it with dog fighting and cock fighting, an utterly despicable sport purely for the benefit of the few, which has no real benefit to the countryside.
If foxes need to be culled it should be as with all other animals in the same category, controlled.
KERRYANNE WILDE , Ukip

I am firmly against this brutal bloodsport and would oppose any attempt to repeal Labour's 2004 Hunting Act.
LOLA MCEVOY , Labour

WESTMORLAND AND LONSDALE

I would vote to replace the hunting act with a broader animal welfare act encompassing both wildlife and livestock.
TIM FARRON , Liberal Democrats

Our Prime Minister has committed to free vote on this issue. I have been a passionate supporter of traditional rural life, but our country has many bigger priorities at this time, issues that are of real importance to local people.
My priorities are improving transport, local homes, securing investment to grow incomes, attract new business and make the most of our outstanding natural area.
JAMES AIREY , Conservative

Under no circumstances would I vote to have the ban lifted.
The ban itself is fair in its current state as it forbids any recreational hunting, but allows farmers to protest livestock.
Important difference there as I definitely don't want the ban to be repealed.
ELI ALDRIDGE , Labour

I love Basil Brush, Foxy Loxy and Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog. I would not welcome a return to fox hunting. They should all take up fishing.
MR FISH FINGER , Independent

BARROW

The Tory plan to reintroduce cruel fox hunting shows why it would be so bad to give Theresa May a landslide victory with nobody in Parliament to stand up to her when she gets it wrong.
I think the threat of cuts to our local hospital and tackling the scandal of foodbanks should be the government's priority, not their obsession with turning back the clock on fox hunting.
JOHN WOODCOCK , Labour

My personal view, as this is a conscience vote, is against any weakening of the Hunting Act.
However, the choice should be based on the views of constituents, the MP is there to serve them.
LORAINE BIRCHALL , Liberal Democrats

The discussions suggest this would be a free vote, so I would do as I would for any free vote, which is to talk to constituents and find out what they feel about it.
I've never been fox hunting but my personal view is that it shouldn't have been banned.
SIMON FELL , Conservative

I'm not bothered by it as I don't really see it as a big issue.
My locals up in Coniston love it and they don't see a problem with it.
So I would rather let them do what they enjoy.
ALAN PIPER , Ukip

ROB O'HARA , Green Party

Fox hunting is barbaric, and thank goodness we, as a society, rid ourselves of this practice some years ago.

It has no place in a civilised society, and there should be no repeal of the law. In addition, the law should be fully implemented and those found breaking the law should be prosecuted.